Improvement in swings



UNITED ESTATES PATENTv -Orrroa Lucius wI'NsfroN, oF roNTIAo, iLLiNois.-

IMPROVEMENT IN SWINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 109, E65, datedNovember 8, 1&70.l

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, LUoIUs WINsToN, of Pontiac, in the county ofLivingston and State of Illinois, have invented new and valuableImprovements in Swings; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation ofthe same, reference being had -to the annexed drawings, making a part ofthis specification, and to the letters and figures of reference markedthereon.

Figure l of the drawings is a front view of the improved swing. Fig. 2is a side view, with one of the swings elevated to show the position ofthe seat when in such position.

I construct the frame-work l of wood or other suitable material, and onthe under side of the cross-.beam securely fasten the slotted plates 77, in which the bars 2 2 play. From these plates hang perpendicularlythe bars 2 2, held in position by bolt and eye, and working freely backand forth. Between these, and at a convenient height from the ground, isplaced the seat, either single or double,.as at 4 4, secured by rodspassing from each couple of bars through the 'base of the seat from sideto side. This method of securing the seat has the advantage over everyother in present use, that the seat, not being immovably xed to thebars, always rem'ains in a horizontal position, no matter how high itmay rise in the air. Its path, therefore, is on an inclined plane, andnot on an arc of a circle, as is the case in all other suspended swings.'Hence it follows that the motion is far more agreeable, especially ifthe party swinging is at all likely to be unpleasantly affected by therapid, arc-like movement of ordinary swings in the air. Theperpendicular bars being hung parallel to each other at right angleswith the cross-beam, and at a distance equal to the width of the seatnearly, give greater strength to the swing, and each set acts as a checkon the other two, and prevents the seat from occupying any but ahorizontal position. This would not be the case if the bars hung at anyother angle, or if the swing was constructed with two bars only insteadof four. The application of this principle to swings I claim to beentirely new.

Below the seat, and parallel with it, at the proper distance, is thefoot-rest and propeller 5, constructed of two bars placed at rightangles with the perpendicular bars joined together by rods of wood ormetal, and extending several feet in front of the seat. This rest issecured between the bars in the same manner as the seat, and hence movesin a parallel plane with it when the swing is in motion. The rods uponwhich the feet rest are placed" far enough apart to give the swingersheel and foot a rm hold, both to propel the swing and prevent thepossibility of accidentally falling out. At the same or other convenientdistance above the seat, and parallel with it, is the frame-work 3 3,secured so as to move in the same manner asthe seat and foot-rest, andjoined by a fixed bar, as in the double-seat swing, or by a hinged barand bolt, asin 6 in the single one. In the one case the swinger muststoop to enter the swing, ,in the other not. This frame-work not onlyserves to give additional strength to the swing, and, like thefoot-rest, to prevent the rider from falling out, but its chief valuelies in the fact that it serves as a means of propelling the swing bythe hands of the swinger. This combination of the foot and handpropellers gives greater power than can can be obtained in any other ofthe swings now before the public, because as the seat and propellersplay in parallel planes andA move together as if in one piece, the forceof the swingeris equally exerted and ,applied throughout the wholemotion of the swing back and forth. The swinger/can also exert his powermore fearlessly, because, the seat remaining always horizontal, he losesnone of his strength to keep himself from falling ont, as he would haveto do if the seat swung on the arc of a circle, as other swings do.

I claim that swings constructed in the manner above described aresuperior to all others, in that they are safer, stronger, morecomfortable to ride in, and easier of propulsion by the occupant.

What I claim and desire to secure by. Letters Patent, is-

1. The parallel bars, in combination with the movable seat andhand-propeller, the said vseat and propeller being arranged to alwaysmove in parallel planes with each other, substantially as set forth anddescribed.

2. The parallel bars, in combination with the movable seat andfoot-propeller, said seat and propeller being arranged to always move Intestimony that I claim the above I herein parallel planes, substantiallyas set forth unto subscribe my name in the presence of tWo anddeseribed.) f h f k 1 t Witnesses.

3. rIhe com nation o t e rame-wor s o l ted plates, bars7 hinged bar,movable seat, and LUCIUS m INSTON hand and foot propellers secured tomove with Vitnesses: the seat in parallel planes, substantially as setJOSEPH H. CULVER, forth and described. BYRON PHELPs.

